Government officials have been forced to apologise to bankrupt property developer Dave Henderson over an email trail suggesting court staff would leak details about charges against him to the media.

And there are calls for a top bureaucrat to accept responsibility for the emails and resign after they were released under the Privacy Act and made public yesterday.

Henderson wants a stay of legal proceedings that allege he failed to disclose information relevant to his status as a bankrupt and that he obtained credit of $1000 or more (while bankrupt).

The controversial Christchurch businessman and his close friend, former ACT leader Rodney Hide, believe the emails show the Insolvency and Trustee Service has "no integrity" and were trying to give him a "good roughing up".

"It's a well established principle that you can't use the courts as a means of trying to intimidate or cower someone," Henderson said.

"These emails point to such motives."

The service's national manager, Robyn Cox, should have "cleaned out her desk and walked out the front door this week", Henderson said.

"Put your hand up and say, ‘I've screwed up', and take responsibility for it."

The emails, dated November 7 last year, show Insolvency and Trustee Service senior investigator Barend Wolmarans gave a "heads up" to Cox that charges were being filed against Henderson.

"Once the charges [sic] is filed I am sure someone at the court will leak the info to the media," Wolmarans says in the email.

Cox replies: "The response by H will be interesting."

She then forwards the email exchange to other senior officials telling them about the prosecution against Henderson and warning them to "be prepared for fireworks".

In a letter to Henderson, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) chief executive David Smol says, "On behalf of the ministry I apologise for this."

The Insolvency and Trustee Service is overseen by MBIE.

Yesterday, Smol told The Press staff involved had been spoken to and "fully acknowledge that the email exchange was inappropriate".

"We are taking this matter seriously and will be taking all necessary remedial action to ensure the integrity of our operations and that our staff are aware of their obligations under the ministry's code of conduct," Smol said.

"This inappropriate behaviour is in no way a reflection of staff attitudes across MBIE and we regret this incident."

Asked whether Cox would lose her job, Smol said he would not comment further while a review was under way.

Canterbury district commander Superintendent Gary Knowles yesterday also acknowledged that aspects of police raids targeting Henderson's Lichfield St offices in 2011 were "unsatisfactory" but not unlawful.